Bybit, the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, convened regulators, global payment networks, banking leaders, and digital asset innovators in Tbilisi for a high-level forum exploring the future of crypto-powered payments. The event gathered stakeholders from across the financial ecosystem to discuss how digital assets can integrate with traditional payment infrastructure, expand real-world utility, and support the continued development of Georgia’s digital economy. The forum also marked the introduction of the Bybit Card in Georgia, a step toward enabling everyday crypto payments. The card allows users to spend digital assets for daily purchases and is compatible with Apple Pay in Georgia, enabling secure contactless payments directly from users’ digital wallets.
Bybit’s expansion into the payments space follows the company securing a Payment Service Provider (PSP) license in Georgia in Q4 2025. The license allows Bybit to issue Bybit cards in Georgia, strengthening local fiat payment rails and enabling closer integration between digital asset services and the country’s financial infrastructure. Government representatives expressed appreciation for the launch of the Bybit Card in Georgia, recognizing it as an important step toward expanding real-world digital asset payments. With strong support from the government and regulators, the Bybit Card has already gained growing adoption locally.
Bybit plans to further expand card issuance in Georgia and across neighboring markets, with the country serving as a regional hub for crypto-powered payment innovation. The event featured keynote remarks from representatives of the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia and the National Bank of Georgia, highlighting Georgia’s commitment to responsible financial innovation and modern payment infrastructure. A central highlight of the program was a panel discussion titled “The Future of Payments,” which explored how collaboration between regulators, global payment networks, banks, and blockchain companies can accelerate the adoption of real-world crypto payments. Panel participants included Ben Zhou, Co-Founder and CEO of Bybit; Shota Lomtadze, Director of Bybit Georgia; Natia Turnava, Governor of the National Bank of Georgia; David Zgudadze, Vice President for Georgia and Armenia at Mastercard; Salim Dhanani, Co-Founder and CEO of Pave Bank; Marco Dal Lago, VP of Global Expansion and Strategic Partnerships at Tether; and Tekla Iashagashvili, Regional Manager of Bybit Georgia.
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